Hippy happy hoppy lady day.

There's such a lot of celebration today. It's pancake day, here in the UK. In Sweden it's Fettisdagen (when we eat semlor). It's also International Women's Day.

I had pancakes for dinner. And I got cake at work - some students were marking Int'l Women's Day and gave out cake in return for writing a message on their banner. Sweet deal, I thought (geddit?). I've not had a semla yet but might make some at the weekend.

Anyway. To the point. I saw a lovely entry on a blog where the author is celebrating her mum today. It was quite inspiring. So here's a photo of the two best, wonderfullest and strongest women I know (and my lovely dad!). I love you.

Dag 03 – Mina föräldrar (my parents)

I have the best parents ever. They live just the right distance away but will always lend me money when I need it...

I'm only joking.

Not about having the best parents ever!

Don't get to see them enough, though it's nearly New Years so not long now. We talk on the phone approx once a week, with some texts/emails going back and forth most weeks. We used to Skype but - and I'm not sure if this was at my end or theirs - it was so wobbly we sort of gave up on it. It was also really faffy, having to plan exact time to talk etc. But we should probably take that up again...

Bless them, they always worry about us. I think they worry more about Mike though - not only does he have to live in a cold house, he also has to put up with me! And as two people who had to put up with me for 19 years, they have nothing but sympathy for him...

Steps 21+22nd April and other assorted fun.

Forgot to reset the counter - so over Weds/Thurs I walked 22551 steps. Not toooooo bad...

This week has been hectic. I've been doing so many different things I don't know what I'm doing in the end. Will be nice to have a relaxing weekend though. Hah! As if.

I'm slightly frustrated by the lack of enthusiasm in certain projects but nothing new there. I just wish people wouldn't take me and other people, and the work we do, for granted. Watch what happens if I take a step back...

Finally spoke to my parents last night, I've been complaining (heh) they haven't rung me in ages but to be fair I've not rung them either... I'm incredibly bad at keeping in touch (which you'll probably know if you know me at all!) and it's something I need to get better at.

But not now. Now I have to go get ready for work.

It's good to write, even if they're just words and there's not much too them. But I like (nearly) all words.

It's nearly been a month, how did that happen?

Quite a lot has been happening - I'm sure I'll not post about it all so I won't promise I will.

Graduated a few weekends ago, it was nice. Parents & Joanna came over which was lovely - this flat may be big but it sure isn't big enough for 5 people... Bittersweet feeling as always when they left, I miss them. But should get to see Dad in March and all of them for Dad's 60th at Easter. Which reminds me, I've not booked my flight yet, oops!

The actual graduation was great, with good speeches from both the chancellor and the honorary doctorate. I'd never heard about him but I enjoyed his speech. May tell you more about it another day. Oh look, I'm doing it again - promising you things I'll probably never do...

After the ceremony we took loads of photos, Dad tried on my robe & hat (and they really suited him!) and then we went for lunch at Ask. Nice place, so busy on a Sat lunch though... And we were all pretty tired from getting up early + late night the night before. Then we went to the pub with some people off my course + their families which was really nice. Crazy warm though.

Was also elected as secretary for the charity I work with - not that anyone else stood for the role at the AGM, but still... Am quite excited but am still trying to get my head around it.

I shall tell you more about work another time - too tired right now!

Cleveland Show is on TV and it's so ridiculously bad. I expected it to be bad but not quite like this. I wouldn't recommend it.

on Snobbery.

It's so amusing. I find myself reading blog/forum posts around the net filled with British snobbery. Well. Let me explain.

They moan about posh people, about people with money - how awful anyone with a good upbringing or who was lucky enough to be born into an upper/middle class household is. They moan about those at the other end of the spectra - those without anything, those on benefits, those on the verge of desperation or on the periphery of society. Nothing and no one is good enough for these moaners, the worst snobs of them all.

If you're not brought up in a family who are/were struggling financially; if you didn't go to a crap school; if you can afford to go to uni without working at least 20 hours a week to earn your keep; if your family is actually supportive and help you out (financially or otherwise) to help you achieve your goals and - worst of all - if you actually accept their help: well then you're posh. You don't deserve good things, no matter how hard you work, because you've 'always had it easy'.

This little moan would make a lot more sense if I had some quotes to illustrate - but I'm not interested in starting Blog Wars 2009 (or, 2010 nearly...), and I'm not interested in hurting anyone's feelings, in case they happen to come across this post.

I'm just... I'm part amused, part annoyed by these people. Why shouldn't I embrace being born into a reasonably well off family; why should I have to be ashamed of that? I've got massive student debts - from the very generous Swedish government - and paired with my parents'/great uncle's generous gifts at Christmas and birthdays etc I've never *had* to have a job whilst studying. But for most of it I did - not a lot of hours, and not throughout, but the implication that everyone with a similar background to myself are strangers to working is insulting.

Don't get me wrong - I admire those that have come from a more difficult background who have worked so hard to be able to go to uni (or, who's parents have worked so hard to enable their kids to get a better future). But I resent the snobbery from some of these people.

It reminds me - somehow, I'm not 100% sure how - of 'old' vs. 'new' money. But the other way around. In that situation, the fact that 'new' money has obviously worked hard to get where they are is ignored - and the focus is on the lack of history/heritage...

I've rambled on enough now - and as always, completely forgotten where I wanted to go with this post. You're used to it by now, I'd have thought...

xx

It's all about the who.

I'm very interested in how people react to things, how they approach situations and how they respond differently to similar things.

I remember reading a story about this man who was reminiscing on his childhood. Or maybe it was a piece on the radio. Either way, it was a few years ago I came across this so bear with me. He told of how whenever anything broke, stopped working or happened in their household, the response from his parents was always the same - 'who did this?'.

I don't remember anything like that from my childhood. Ok, my sister and I would probably jump straight in with 'look what Joanna/Julia did!' before our parents even had a chance to ask. Little tattle-tales we were...

This emphasis on 'who', on the blame is the interesting part. He described it as something that coloured his whole childhood. Of course, sometimes the 'who' is important. But isn't a response focused on how to fix things more practical?

I think I very much focus on the fixing rather than blame. People - especially kids - make mistakes. And there is no use in wallowing or worrying about stuff.

Of course, then there's the mistakes you just can't take back. But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm on about
silly things, like breaking a vase or spilling your cornflakes.

I'm not 100% sure where I was going with this. This is what I get for taking a break from blogging and watching some Criminal Minds...